Tunneling field emission from nano-optics under electron irradiation.

ABSTRACT: While field emission, which is crucial for sub-angstrom resolution imaging and nanofabrication, has been extensively investigated in high-voltage and laser-driven systems, its realization through plasmonics under electron irradiation remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate a proof of concept for electron beam-driven field emission from plasmonic emitter arrays with nanoscale hotspots acting as highly efficient emission sites, which also exhibit strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity. The electron beam-induced field distributions and electrical polarization switching are visualized by four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy. Classical and quantum-corrected electromagnetic simulations combined with experimental field maps identify the highest field intensities

SUBMITTER: Elibol K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12758518 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature